Nominations Are Now Open for 500 Most Influential People List

['Sherri Dalphonse', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] Washingtonian 2025-09-22 00:00:00

Nominations are now open for Washingtonian’s 2026 list of the 500 Most Influential People in Policy list. The 500 Most Influential People in Policy list is an editorial project, done by journalist David Catanese, who interviews people throughout DC to determine the most important and influential people in policy work at that time. Click here to find out how to submit a nomination for the 2026 Most Influential People in Policy list, and to read the submission guidelines. All nominations for the 2026 list are due by Friday, December 5, 2025, at noon. We avoid big-name “hired guns” whose influence often derives more from their communication skills and network than from their expertise in a particular area.